CSS Jamestown,
a 1300-ton side-wheel gunboat, was built in at New York City in 1853
as a civilian steamer of the same name. She was seized by the State
of Virginia in April 1861 for use by its navy. Later turned over to
the Confederate Government, she was formally renamed Thomas
Jefferson but continued to be generally known as Jamestown. During
the rest of 1861 and into 1862, the ship was part of the James River
Squadron. She took part in the the battle of 8 March 1862, in which
CSS Virginia destroyed USS Cumberland and USS Congress, and in the 9
March 1862 action between Virginia and USS Monitor. When Virginia
sortied again on 11 April 1862, Jamestown steamed over to the north
side of Hampton Roads and captured three Union merchant ships.

As the Confederate position at Norfolk became tenuous in late
April and early May, Jamestown helped evacuate casualties and
supplies from there to safer areas on the James River. On 15 May
1862, as Federal warships assaulted the defending fortifications at
Drewry's Bluff, CSS Jamestown was sunk nearby to block the channel
leading up the James to Richmond. Her wreck remained in that
location for the rest of the Civil War